While building our prototypes and through interviews with local farmers, we learned about the optimum materials and tools that need to be used in order to create a favorable chicken coop. Although access to a vast supply of tools would be ideal when building a chicken coop, we will include a list of the minimum materials and tools that need to be used in order to create a successful project.
Each design featured in this report requires different types and amounts of materials. In the appendix, we have included materials lists for all three blueprints. Now, we will describe the reasoning behind why we used the materials we used. Organic farming standards dictate that we may not use any kind of pressure treated wood, or any materials that may leak harmful chemicals into the environment. This greatly limited our
options. After our interview with our sponsors Jack and Julie, we narrowed down our valid list of materials to aluminum piping, PVC piping and untreated wood. In an interview with Pam
Raymond, we were warned of the hazards that a coop solely made out of PVC piping may produce. Her professional opinion stated that PVC piping would be too light to stand against the heavy winds and not sturdy enough to protect
against large sized predators. We suggested weighing the PVC down with sand, but this
would only make the coop heavier and harder to move. After getting opinions from local farmers, we met as a group and listed the pros and cons of each material, which can be found in Appendix B, and ultimately deciding untreated wood would be the best material in which to build a chicken coop. To protect from rotting, a local farmer, Jassy, and her husband suggested coating the wood in linseed oil. To learn more about the materials and our thought process behind them, refer to the background chapter and appendix.
Figure 45 Circular Saw
41 After building two prototypes, our group learned much about the types of tools that go
into constructing a mobile chicken coop. the main tools used include, a drill, a hammer, and various types of saws. In order to cut wood into the adequate sizes, we used a circular saw, though it can also easily be done with a hand saw if a circular saw is not readily available. For the prototype of a chicken coop in a movable pen, we also had to cut out sections of the floor in order to make it drop down. To do this, first we had to drill a hole into two diagonal corners and use a
handsaw to cut out the sections. However, this left little drill holes in the drop down part of the flooring, which is not aesthetically pleasing, but does not greatly affect the design. We also had to cut some ends of the wood into specific angles. To do this, we used a circular saw, which can be set to a certain angle, making cutting the wood much more accurate and easy. While cutting the wood, it is also very important to wear face masks to ensure that one does not inhale the dust created by the wood. Apart from the various saws used, we also greatly utilized drills in order to screw in various parts of the coop. We screwed certain sections, such as when connecting the ground supports to the flooring in the movable pen prototype, in order to optimize the sturdiness of the coop. For the parts where screws were not used, we used a hammer and nails to connect the pieces of wood. On the movable pen coop, we fashioned the doors using two different styles in order to test which one would serve its purpose and keep its shape the best. As seen by the pictures, one door used a metal corner joint and screws in order to strengthen it, while the other door used diagonal wood supports. After some testing, it was unanimous that the metal corner joints and small screws proved to be more sturdy. Many of our supports were nailed so that the wood would not split, using two nails at each joint instead of one in order to improve sturdiness. However, there can be artistic freedom when constructing the frame of the coop. It is up to the builder to decide
whether to use screw or nails, with screw providing more sturdiness, but risking splitting the wood.
42 A big enough workspace is also necessary when building the coop. The prototypes were made in a basement and a garage, however, if building a full sized model, one must ensure they have enough room. If building indoors, one must also be able to carry the coop outside as well as be able to fit it through doorways. Storage must also be considered when building the coop. One local farmer made their coop easy to disassemble and store away in their barn during the winter month, while another farmer moved the
coop on the edges of their farm, where it can be out of the way, and covered it in tarp. The designs we created will most likely be too large to store and are too complicated to disassemble, leaving farmers with the only choice of storing it outside during the winter months.
Overall, the building of the coop was not too complicated, although some
knowledge of woodworking would be ideal. Our group mates had limited knowledge concerning the building of a coop, so we sought assistance from family members with tools and skills. Like previously stated, wood is the best material to use due to its sturdiness and ease in which to build with. A hand saw, drill, hammer and face mask are necessary tools when building a coop,
however a circular saw and table saw are both handy to have.
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